Record flood waters have wreaked havoc in two cities in Russia’s Ural mountains, causing widespread devastation and forcing thousands of residents to evacuate with just their pets and a few belongings. The Ural River, Europe’s third-longest river, burst through a dam in the city of Orsk, leading to the flooding of at least 10,000 homes.
The situation escalated rapidly as the river swelled several meters in just hours due to meltwater, overwhelming the dam embankment. The mayor of Orsk, Vasily Kozupitsa, reported that a second river in the town, the Yelshanka, also burst its banks, prompting urgent evacuation measures for affected residents.
More than 6,100 people have already been evacuated from Orsk, with 15 out of 40 schools in the city being flooded. Footage released by the Emergencies Ministry showed people navigating through neck-high waters, rescuing stranded animals, and using boats and canoes to travel along flooded roads.
President Vladimir Putin has ordered Emergencies Minister Alexander Kurenkov to fly to the region to assess the situation. The Kremlin has warned that flooding is now inevitable in other regions, including Kurgan in the Urals and Tyumen in Siberia.
Authorities in Orenburg region estimated the cost of flood damage locally at around 21 billion roubles ($227 million) and predicted that floodwaters would only dissipate after April 20. The situation remains critical, with flood warnings issued in other Russian regions and concerns raised about the potential for further escalation.